Icematters4all

Glaciers in Eastern Alps see their last days much quicker than was estimated a few years ago. Newest modelling results point out that about 30 % of the glaciers in Stubai and Ötztal Alps will be gone until 2030. Even taking into account all uncertainties coming along with future scenarios, this result definitely points put that an immediate preparation for an ice free future in the Alps is a definite necessity now – even if it may take until mid-century until a major part of today’s glacier area is lost. This loss of glacier is a very visible and sharp tipping point out of several global and local ones – and the first one we have reached. Therefore, we have to use this window of opportunity to get used to climate change adaption at various scales in cooperation of science, society and stake holders.